CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for solid waste collection companies in Lancaster, PA
Solid waste collection companies in the Lancaster, PA metro area: 27 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 18-person team.
- Establishments
- 27CBP 2023
- Employees
- 496mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 4.8U.S. 3.2
- Rank
- 71st of 564areas by count
The waste collection company market in Lancaster, PA
County Business Patterns counts 27 solid waste collection companies (NAICS 562111, Solid Waste Collection) in the Lancaster, PA metro area for 2023. They employed 496 people in mid-March and paid $33.0 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 71st out of 564 areas with published figures for solid waste collection companies.
Measured against its 563,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 4.8 solid waste collection companies per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 3.2, so Lancaster, PA is 48.4% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 18.4 employees, compared with 21.7 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $66,571, 5.4% below the national $70,390.
| Measure | Lancaster, PA | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 27 | 540 | 10,982 |
| Mid-March employees | 496 | 10,623 (moderate noise) | 238,764 |
| Annual payroll | $33,019,000 | $693,624,000 (moderate noise) | $16,806,608,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 18.4 | 19.7 | 21.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $66,571 | $65,295 | $70,390 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 4.8 | 4.1 | 3.2 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at solid waste collection companies in Lancaster, PA
Of the solid waste collection companies in Lancaster, PA that had employees in March 2023, 40.7% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 43.6%). 51.9% had fewer than ten. Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 11 | 40.7% | 43.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 3 | 11.1% | 17.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 18.5% | 14.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 4 | 14.8% | 13.6% |
| 50 or more employees | 4 | 14.8% | 10.6% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for solid waste collection companies in Lancaster, PA
Waste haulers take calls about missed pickups, dumpster rentals and billing. Customers want quick answers when a pickup is missed.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for solid waste collection companies in Lancaster, PA:
- The company calls customers about a holiday schedule.
- A customer calls about a missed pickup.
- A business calls about adding service.
Business texting for solid waste collection companies
Haulers text schedule changes and delivery confirmations.
Team texting on Callata runs from your business number, so replies come from the practice or shop rather than someone's personal phone. It turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
Phone system pricing for an 18-person waste collection company
The average waste collection company in Lancaster, PA has 18.4 employees, so an 18-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 18 users would run $540.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $449.10 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $359.00 a month for 18 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,172 less than RingCentral for a waste collection company in Lancaster, PA of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $359.00 | $4,308.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $342.00 | $4,104.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $414.00 | $4,968.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $449.10 | $5,389.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $486.00 | $5,832.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $540.00 | $6,480.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Local area codes for solid waste collection companies in Lancaster, PA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 717 has the most, with 162 of 214 exchanges (76%). A local number lets customers in Lancaster, PA call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 717 | 162 | Eastern | 1947 | 223 |
| 223 | 52 | Eastern | 2017 | 717 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
What solid waste collection companies in Lancaster, PA get with Callata
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
Porting a number you already use in Lancaster, PA is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many solid waste collection companies are there in Lancaster, PA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 27 solid waste collection companies in the Lancaster, PA metro area in 2023. They employed 496 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for an 18-person waste collection company?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 18 users cost $540.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $449.10 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $359.00.
What area code should a waste collection company in Lancaster, PA use?
Area code 717 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 223. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a waste collection company?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.